How to Spread Religion in Civ 7

Civilization 7 puts the player in the shoes of the great leaders of years past and lets them take the lead of an evolving civilization that adapts to the times. The seventh entry in the Civilization franchise puts a lot more emphasis on dynamic gameplay, condensed sessions, and simplicity. How many of its goals it manages to achieve is arguable.

One of the most important parts of the previous Civ game was the religion system, which tied into one of the major victory conditions in that game. Religion is still important in Civ 7, though in a reduced capacity. The missionaries are still there, but there’s no religious combat, and the importance of maintaining your religion is not as pivotal.

Feature image depicting Age of Wonders 4, EU4, and Warhammer 3

8 Strategy Games to Play if You Enjoyed Civilization 7

Strategy fans looking for something like Civilization 7 should check out these other great games.

How Does Religion Work in Civ 7

Civ 7 takes a much different approach to religion compared to the previous games. For one, religion is only relevant during the exploration age part of your run. For another, there is no victory condition attached to religion, it’s just a part of the culture legacy path. However, that doesn’t mean religion isn’t important.

The religion you choose doesn’t make a big difference, but reliquary beliefs are paramount to obtaining relics, the key ingredient in the culture legacy path during the exploration age. To spread religion, players need to train or buy Missionaries, civilian troops that can only be obtained in cities with a temple. Missionaries cannot harm other missionaries, they can only use their charges to spread religion in a given settlement. Once their charges are used up, the units perish.

Civilization 7 Plague Infected Settlement Cured by Physician

Civilization 7: How to Cure the Plague

This guide to Civilization 7’s plagues explains every Crisis Policy and how to cure an infected Settlement.

How to Completely Spread Religion in a Settlement

When you use a missionary charge to convert a settlement, you fully convert it in just one turn. You can use your missionary on an improved rural tile, an urban tile, or a palace. However, if the settlement you’re trying to convert already follows a different religion, you’ll need to jump through a few more hoops before you’re done.

Rural tiles include farms, pastures, quarries, mines, etc. All resource tiles are rural tiles.

First, travel to an improved rural tile. You can see the improvements on a tile by hovering over them. Use a missionary charge here to start the conversion process. Then on the next turn, move your unit to an urban tile. Any tile with a building counts as an urban tile and use another missionary charge here. This way, you’ll be able to fully convert the settlement.

Sometimes, it can take a few turns before the settlement fully converts, though you only need to use your charges once unless an opposing religion’s missionary tries to convert the city back.